After a two-year absence, HITC Sport takes a look back at Wigan Athletic‘s last Championship opening day XI following their return to the second tier of English football.
In his first full season in charge of the Latics, Leam Richardson secured promotion as League One champions.
Wigan welcome north west rivals Preston North End to the DW Stadium on Saturday (30/7) for their 2022-23 Championship opener.
Wigan’s last Championship opener was a 3-2 home win against Cardiff City three years ago when Paul Cook was in charge.
Wigan Athletic’s last Championship opening day XI
David Marshall – Hibernian
After joining the Latics on a free transfer following his departure from Hull City, the Scotsman made 40 appearances for Wigan before joining Derby County.
The 37-year-old has signed for Scottish Premiership side Hibernian this summer after a brief spell with Queens Park Rangers.
Nathan Byrne – Free agent
The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster made 136 appearances for the Latics before joining Derby County.
The 30-year-old is currently on the lookout for a new club following his release from the Rams.
Chey Dunkley – Shrewsbury Town
The centre-back moved to the DW Stadium from Oxford United in 2017 and made 117 appearances for the Latics, scoring 13 goals.
The 30-year-old has joined Shrewsbury this summer after a two-year spell with Sheffield Wednesday.
Danny Fox – Free agent
The 36-year-old has been without a club for over a year following his departure from Indian Super League side SC East Bengal.
Fox joined Wigan in January 2019 from Nottingham Forest and spent 19 months at the DW Stadium before departing for India. The left-footer made 23 appearances for the Latics.
Antonee Robinson – Fulham
Wigan signed the American on a permanent deal from Everton in July 2019, following an initial season-long loan at the club, and the left-back only spent one further season at the club before being snapped up by Fulham.
The 24-year-old, who has 28 caps for the USA national side, made 65 appearances for Wigan and he was a key part of the Fulham side that secured promotion back up to the Premier League.
Lee Evans – Ipswich Town
Following two prior loan spells with the Latics, the midfielder joined Wigan on a permanent deal from Sheffield United in January 2019.
From 115 games for the club, Evans scored eight goals and provided 17 assists. The 28-year-old joined Ipswich Town last summer.
Evans scored the winner against Cardiff City at the DW Stadium back in August 2019.
Lewis MacLeod – Free agent
The 28-year-old made 12 appearances for Wigan during his solitary season with the club following his arrival from Brentford.
The former Rangers youngster has been a free agent for over a year after leaving Plymouth Argyle.
Anthony Pilkington – Free agent
Like Fox, Pilkington was also lured to the Indian Super League and followed his former Wigan teammate to SC East Bengal after 19 months with the Latics.
The former Cardiff man scored four goals in 26 appearances for Wigan and the 34-year-old is searching for new employers after leaving Fleetwood Town in the summer.
Josh Windass – Sheffield Wednesday
After two seasons with Glasgow giants Rangers, Windass joined Wigan where he would stay for 18 months.
The attacking midfielder scored nine goals from 56 games for Wigan before joining Sheffield Wednesday on an initial loan deal, which was later made permanent.
Windass had an eventful game against the Bluebirds in August 2019, scoring and missing a penalty against the Welsh side.
Michael Jacobs – Portsmouth
Jacobs brought Cook’s side level against Cardiff in August 2019, cancelling out Joe Ralls’ opener for the away side.
The left winger also provided the assist for Evans’ winner.
After five years with the Latics, Jacobs joined Pompey in 2020. From 188 games for Wigan, the 30-year-old scored 32 goals and provided 32 assists.
Joe Garner – Fleetwood Town
The striker spent two-and-a-half years at the DW following his arrival from Ipswich before joining Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia.
Garner scored 17 goals from 75 appearances for the Latics and he’s currently plying his trade in League One with Fleetwood.
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